Regional Reports-East

The Greenbrier River, in southern West Virginia, is perfect for the angler who likes to duel with 3- to 4-pound smallmouths but doesn't mind catching plenty of 12- to 15-inchers. With a canoe or drift boat, you can choose among nine major trips from the confluence of the east and west forks of the Greenbrier to where the main stem enters the New River near Hinton. My favorites are Caldwell to Ronceverte (6 miles), Ronceverte to Fort Spring (8.5 miles), Alderson to Pence Springs (8.5 miles) and Barger Springs to Willow Wood Bridge (6 miles). All nine treks have the potential to produce good-sized brown bass. Your best bet is to use plastic worms and craw worms in pumpkin-pepper, or Texas-rigged four-inch Fin-S worms when the bass are holding deep. Also try Heddon and Rapala topwater lures. Contact: West Virginia Wildlife Resources Division (1900 Kanawah Blvd., Charleston, WV 25305; 304-558-277); Greenbrier River Company (800-775-2203) for stream conditions.